Machine for broadcasting a wide area of illumination



June 25, 1929. J BOWEN 1,718,850

MACHINE FOR BROADCASTING A WIDE AREA OF ILLUMINATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 9, 1928 r 15x E1 TTTTTT EY June 25,1929. T. J. BOWEN MACHINEFOR BROADCASTING A WIDE AREA OF ILLUMINATION Filed March 9, 1928 2Sheets-She'et 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- THOMAS J. BOWEN, OEF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE?MARY IQ. BOWEN ADMENISTiR-JLTBIX OF SAID THUMAS J. BOWEN, DECEASED.

MACHINE FGR BROADCASTING .A WIDE .QF ILLUMEI NA'IION.

Application filed March 9, ,1928. Serial No. 260,477.

The present invention relates to an improved zuiparatus for broadcastingillumina- .tion over a substantial area, the primary purpose being toperform this function in aprac .tical and economical manner, without anyflickering shadows.

The time has arrived where it is essential to illuminate extremely wideareas, such as around freight yards, on the sea from light houses andall such similar places, and more especially to illuminate aviationlanding fields, the last need being most essential.

To carry out these needs, that is to say to illuminate such places, itis the purpose to provide tall towers, and to mount thereon the presentimproved device for creating a true sphere of illumination, such as mayspread spherically over a substantial wide area.

Another purpose is to provide a round ring fame of substantial diameterdisposed in a perpendicular plane and 'revoluble on a vertical axis andprovided. with a plurality of search lamps having substantialicandlepower, the lamps extending about the convexcd surfaces of the roundtrame,whereby upon driving the frame at a substantial rate otspeed onits vertical axis the lamps will disperse a true sphere of illumination,it being the purpose to drive the round ring frame at a sub stantialrate of speed so as to avoid flickering shadows.

It is possible, as illustrated, to provide in tersecting round ringframes, each intersecting round ring frame having high power searchlamps, thereby creating an extreme spherical illumination over a verywide area, insuring against any flickering shadows, and at the same timepermitting the driving means for the frames to operate muchslower thanwhen operating a single round ring frame.

It may also be essential to note that certain of the high candle powerlamps may have colored lenses, it being possible to use conventionaltype of make and break circuit closures, for turning the lamps on andoff, for signaling purposes. This apparatus may be used for any purposesin addition to those above mentioned.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitive, and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modification of details and proportions may bemade in the construction of appliance according to circumstances.

'fied construction wherein there are two ring frames shown. Figure 1s aplan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed view ofthe support and the tracks 14 showing thecooperative parts thereof.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the Figure 6, also showing thetracks M ths support 113 and thebrushes 12.

Referring to the drawings: 1 identifies a base,.aud rising therefrom isa tower 2 which maybe any height and may be of any suitableconstruction, such as angle iron frame work. llhis tower may be on theplan of the well known Eiffel tower though not necessarily, but shouldbe of sufficient height to enable the lamps to disperse a substantialwide Mounted in bearings of the tower is a verti cal shaft 3, having itslower end operatively connected by gears 4t to a motor 5 ot suflicienthorse power to enable the round ring frame 6 which is mounted at theupper end of the shaft) to revolve rapidly, sutlicie'ntly to enable thehigh candle powered search lamps to disperse rays of light, anddue tothe "apid rotation of the roundir'ing frame the rays of light dispersedwill be in true spherical contour andwithout flickering shadows.

The high candle power search lamps may be of the usual type, embodied inthe round ring frame and due to the convened surface of the round ringframe the lenses 7 of the lamps will be convexed, enabling thereflectors 8 to disperse rays of light with substantial diverging linesof direction.

The bulbs 9 of the lamps may be wired direct or in series, and theirconductors 10 are connected to binding posts 11 carried by brushes 12,which are in turn mounted in a suitable support 13. This support iscarried by the round ring frame, and the brushes are extended downwardlyand their extremities globular illumination, widely reaching over .thesur'tace of the ground or sea.

operate upon circularconductor tracks 14, to which high tensionconductor wires 15 are connected. These high tension conductor wiresare'employed for the purpose of carrying high tension current from anysuitable source of current supply, not shown, which will furnish currentto the high candle power lamps.

It is possible to so wire (but not shown) the, bulbs that the lamps ofthe upper half of the round ring frame may be shut off in any Well knownconventional manner not shown, that is should the device be used onaviation fields in order that after the aviator locatesthe field due tothe sphere of illumination,.those around the field may operate thecurrent so as to shut off the illumination of p the upper half of theround ring frame.

Furthermore it is possible to construct the frame .6 solidjin the formof a band not shown and bolt or otherwise' mo'unt the lamps on theframe.

The,invention having been set forth, what is claimed'is: .1. In anapparatus forbroadcasting illumination, a supporting frame having a bedplate on its upper end, a shaft mounted vertically in said frame forrevoluble movement therein, a round ring frame movable with the upperend of the shaft, a plurality of high candle power search lamps arrangedabout the convexed surface of the round ring frame, whereby as the ringframe rotates with the shaft a truly spherical illumination may bedispersed over a wide area, conductor tracks mounted on the bed plate ofthe first frame immediately. under the ringed frame, a pair vofyield-ably. mounted conductor brushes carried by the round ring frameand connected direct or in series with the lamps-and adapted to ride incontact with the conductor tracks, and means for furnishing high tensioncurrent to the lamps.

-2.' In an apparatus for broadcasting illumination, a frame ofsubstantial height having a bed plate on its upper end, a pair of"circular conductor tracks on the bed plate and provided with contactsurfaces arcuate in cross section, and including binding terminals forhigh tension current, a shaft mounted vertically in said frame forrevoluble movement therein, a round ring frame supported onthe upper endof the shaft and movable therewith, a plurality of high candle powersearch lamps arranged about the convexed surface of the round ringframe, whereby as the shaft rotates a truly spherical illumination maybe dispersed over a. wide area above and below, a pair of yieldablymounted conductor brushes, having binding terminals operatively mountedon and carried by the round ring frame and connected direct or in serieswith the lamps, the construction and arrangement of the brushes beingsuch as to en "age with the arcuate surfaces of the tracks, wherebycurrent may be transmitted to the lamps, conductor wires connected withthe binding terminals of the tracks adapted for transmitting hightension current to the tracks and the lamps through the medium of thebrushes.

3. In an apparatus for broadcasting illumination, a frame of substantialheight having a bed plate on its upper end, a pair of circular conductortracks on the bed plate and provided with contact surfaces arcuate incross section, and including binding terminals for high tension current,a shaft mounted vertically in said frame for revoluble move-- menttherein, around ring frame supported on the upper end of the shaft andmovable therewith, a plurality of high candle power search lampsarranged about the convexed surface of the round ring frame, whereby asthe shaft rotates a truly spherical illumination may be dispersed over awide area above and below, a pair of yieldably mounted conductorbrushes, having binding terminals operatively mounted on and carried bythe round ring frame and connected direct or in series with the lamps,the construction and arrangement of the brushes being such as to engagewith the arcuate surfaces of the tracks, whereby current may betransmitted to the lamps, conductor wires connected with the bindingterminals of the tracks adapted for transmitting high tension current tothe tracks and the lamps through the medium of the brushes, means forpreventing downward axial movement of the shaft, and means connected tothe lower end of the shaft for rotating the same.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature.

THOMAS J. BOWEN.

